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Xavier beats Fairleigh Dickinson 117-75

By JOE KAY, AP Sports WriterFriday, Nov 9, 2012

CINCINNATI (AP)—Dee Davis had career highs with 22 points and 15 assists
on Friday night, and Xavier scored 68 points in the opening half of a 117-75
victory over short-handed Fairleigh Dickinson in their season opener.

Xavier put together the second-best opening half in its history. The
Musketeers scored 72 in the first half of a 122-95 win over Florida
International on Feb. 24, 1988, the school record for points in a game.

The Musketeers finished with their most points since a 118-113 win over
Loyola Marymount on Jan. 4, 1989.

Davis had his first career double-double at point guard, where he’s taking
over for Tu Holloway. He had a dozen assists in the first half alone, matching
the school record for a sophomore. His 15 assists tied for second-most in school
history, three off the record.

Lonnie Robinson scored 20 points for Fairleigh Dickinson, which left four
players at home for disciplinary reasons and had only nine players on the bench.
The lack of depth quickly took a toll.

Xavier 3-point specialist Brad Redford showed he’s back to form after
injuries, hitting 6 of 7 from behind the arc and converting a four-point play
while Xavier pulled ahead 68-32. He finished with a career-high 19 points, one
of seven Musketeers in double figures.

Both teams opened the season with depleted rosters.

Xavier had one of its worst off seasons. Top returning scorer Mark Lyons
transferred to Arizona, and forward Dez Wells was expelled for violating the
school’s code of student conduct. That left the Musketeers with only eight
scholarship players and no returning starters.

The Musketeers were down to seven scholarship players because freshman guard
Semaj Christon—a new starters—was sidelined with an infected elbow.

Senior guard Melquan Bolding was the top returning player for the Knights,
who went 3-26 last season. The Knights hit a few quick 3s at the outset to keep
it close, leading 15-14.

Xavier took control with a 21-2 run that featured the four-point play by
Redford and two more 3s by the senior guard. Redford missed the 2010-11 season
because of knee surgery and wasn’t back to full strength last season, when he
failed to make a 3 in his last eight games.

Once Xavier started hitting shots over Fairleigh Dickinson’s zone defense,
the Knights couldn’t keep up. The Musketeers also worked the ball inside for
easy baskets— forward Jeff Robinson got a rebound off his missed 3 and made a
lay-in as Xavier pulled away to a 38-point lead before halftime.

Xavier shot 70.6 percent from the field during the first half, including 9
of 16 from behind the arc.